reduction

On a scale of 1 to 10
what is your pain?
I wanted to choose 11
but I tapped 1 twice
in hopes someone
would notice
But the nurse just nodded and said
“that’s great”
I was hoping if they put me
under
they’d cut out my heart
instead of leaving it
to rot
But it was still there
aching
under stitches not
meant
for it
In my checkup a
week later
the doctor asked me
how I was

Fine, I said
and left to sit
in my car and cry
As my stitches burst
open
They’d never tell you
how abnormal you are
healing
they just tell you
to come
back
next week
where
boxes get checked
and
no one really
follows
up